Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/188

 I7O PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING

that line accompanies it. The direction of the attention on first one and then another of several alternatives is the essential thing in the process of deliberation which precedes choice. If the attention can be kept on one to the exclusion of others, the action will take place along that line. The fixing and holding of the attention upon one as opposed to the others is the act of choice, is decision, is all that there is of volition, except the release of the impulse through the motor channels of expression. But this leads naturally to the consideration of the different kinds of attention.

III. There are three kinds of attention ; or more prop erly speaking, one s interest may determine the direction of his attention in three different ways. It is not strictly cor rect to speak of different kinds or forms of attention, for attention is always simply focalized consciousness. But that focalization takes place under different conditions, and these differences really constitute the basis of the classifica tion now to be made.

I. Compulsory attention. This is the attention which is directed upon a stimulus that forces itself into the focus of consciousness. It may be because it is so powerful or so persistent or so startling, or has some other quality which enables it to interrupt the mental processes that are going on. A loud noise, a keen or gnawing pain, a great surprise, an unexpected good fortune whatever it may be that breaks in upon the current of one s thoughts and forces them in another direction, or powerfully reinforces the mental processes along the line in which they are moving produces compulsory attention. Interruption, however, is the usual characteristic of this kind of attention. These in terrupting experiences which we can not neglect occur fre quently during our waking hours and sometimes crash through the brittle shell of slumber within which the brain retreats from the stimulations that overtax it. They can compel attention because they appeal so strongly to the fundamental interest of life. The survival interest of the organism requires that such sudden or unusual changes in

�� �